Given the generally high price of anything connected with photography, I think this kit is a terrific bargain. In less than an hour after the box arrived, I had it all set up and was taking better indoor photos than I've ever done before ... and now I have to learn to use it properly!
As other reviewers have mentioned, there are a lot of parts but no instructions at all. Nonetheless, it's fairly intuitive to assemble: if you've ever assembled IKEA furniture, this should be a breeze!
It's definitely not as solid as pro equipment and you have to be a bit careful not to trip over wires and bring the whole thing crashing down. But, with a bit of care, everything should be fine. The bulbs are cool and bright and seem to give daylight white balance, although I haven't checked this carefully.
The backdrops are a bit thin and the folds show when they are first unpacked. Use a fairly plain background behind the backdrop if you can: I put it in front of built-in cupboards, and just have to be careful to avoid getting the gaps between cupboard doors in shot. It also helps to place the subject as far from the backdrop as possible and use a wide aperture (provided you have the DoF you need for the subject, of course).
A minor problem is that the cables to the lamps are not very long - a little over six feet. That sounds ok but, when you spread the lamps out and try to move wires to the sides, six feet doesn't go very far. Be prepared to buy a few extension cords and distributors!
Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase and look forward to working with it.
| Manufacturer | CanadianStudio |
|---|---|
| Item model number | VL-50704A |
| Product Dimensions | 77 x 30 x 30 cm; 12 kg |
| ASIN | B00LK42KJ4 |
